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A new course launched by the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ to strengthen research capability within the adult social care sector has enjoyed a highly successful first six months. 

The REAL (Research, Evaluation, Audit and Literature) course funded by the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) Applied Research Collaboration Wessex brings together frontline social care staff and university researchers.  

The first cohort came together in May and this month a poster showcasing the course won Joint First Place at competition held as part of the Hampshire and isle of Wight Integrated Care Partnership Assembly. 

ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ’s winning poster highlighted the innovative design and impact of the REAL course to strengthen research skills, confidence, and capacity across the social care workforce.  

The course brings together practitioners, managers, and leaders to develop practical evaluation and research capabilities that directly enhance care quality and outcomes. 

Dr Rachel Harrison, Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care, and Course Co-ordinator and Jessica Mitchell, with their poster showcasing the REAL course which won Joint First Place at competition held as part of the Hampshire and isle of Wight Integrated Care Partnership Assembly

It is run by Dr Rachel Harrison, Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care, and Course Co-ordinator is Jessica Mitchell, a ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Global Health graduate who supports many of the University’s short courses. 

Dr Harrison, who leads the course, said: “We are thrilled to have our work recognised by colleagues across the Integrated Care System. The REAL course was designed to empower people working in social care to generate, use, and share evidence that improves practice. This award reflects the strength of collaboration across our region and the commitment to embedding research within everyday care. 

“The University extends its thanks to all contributors, learners, and partners who have shaped the REAL course and supported its continued growth. This recognition underscores the vital role of research-informed practice and the importance of equipping the workforce with the skills to drive meaningful improvements in care.” 

A celebration event was held at the University recently to mark the end of the first course. 

It was attended by Pro-Vice Chancellor Matt Webster, Deputy Director of NIHR ARC Wessex Cathy Bowen. Also present were Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing Elizabeth Davies-Ward, Associate Dean Hazel Brown, successful learners and their managers and supporters across a wide range of health and social care settings and organisations. 

Six of the attendees, who undertook this course as part of their learning on how to undertake robust research which makes a real difference in real practice settings, were awarded NIHR ARC Wessex Fellowships.  

Mel Tomkings, an Occupational Therapist at Hampshire County Council (HCC), with her winning poster at the celebration event to mark the end of the first REAL (Research, Evaluation, Audit and Literature) course at the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ 

A poster competition was held at the celebration which was won by Mel Tomkings, an Occupational Therapist at Hampshire County Council (HCC), whose entry focused on why Occupational Therapists (OTs) find it so hard to find out about funding opportunities.  

Poster competition runners-up Jackie Lillywhite, Tracey Carus and Sam Jakeway

Second place was shared by three entrants:  

• Jackie Lillywhite (an advocate for a local charity) whose poster looked at ways of understanding parents’ negative experiences in supporting a child with learning disabilities  
• Tracey Carus (Service Manager for Learning Disability Services at HCC) with a review of ways parents and service providers could get on better 
• Sam Jakeway (Deputy Manager of a Day Service for people with learning disabilities at HCC) who had researched the differences in satisfaction rates between day services sessions which did and did not have detailed lesson plans.  

Prizes were presented by Rachel Tobin, Project Manager at ARC Wessex. 

ARC Wessex has agreed to the give the University extra funding to pay for learners on a second run of this course, which already has 15 learners signed up and is generating a great deal of interest in the care and health sectors. 

Issues covered by REAL course research projects include finding ways of: 

• Giving people with learning disabilities a greater say and influence in the services that support them 
• Introducing individual learning plans for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities attending day services 
• Mapping the research funding landscape for Occupational Therapists (OTs) to empower them to lead change and innovation  
• Improving the Activities Database for Disabled People in Hampshire 
• Giving better support to newly qualified OTs in local authorities by creating stronger induction and supervision systems to reduce staff turnover, improve job satisfaction, and cut waiting times for people who need OT support 
• Overcoming Resistance to Specialist Toilets in Day Services to ensure that expensive resources are used correctly and consistently to promote dignity and safe personal care 
• Understanding the impact of challenging behaviour on staff to improve staff safety, retention, and care quality for people who display the challenging behaviour 

To find out more about the REAL course visit HWBShortCourses@winchester.ac.uk. 

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